Monday, July 10, 2017

Usually when I can do something on autopilot it’s a good thing. It means it has become a part of my routine and I can quickly get the chore done without investing too much brainpower.

But sometimes? Sometimes running on autopilot doesn’t work so well. Like this morning when I did my site change. I estimate that I’ve done well over 1,200 site changes in my years of pumping, so I most certainly run on autopilot when I do them. Remove the old site. Rewind the pump. Disinfect both my skin and the insulin bottle. Fill the new reservoir. Tap out the bubbles. Connect the tubing. Prime and confirm that I see drops of insulin at the end of the needle. Remove needle guard. Insert site.

Oops!! That’s right, I missed a step. PEEL BACKING OFF OF ADHESIVE!!! My fresh new site immediately fell out because I didn’t expose the “glue” that keeps it stuck to me for the next three days.

Just because I’ve done something more than 1,200 times doesn’t mean I shouldn’t continue to pay closer attention during the next 1,200 times. Because autopilot apparently doesn’t always work out so well…..

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

I'm a bit late with this year's Diabetes Blog Week wrap up, but I wanted to make sure we capped things off. And better late than never, right?

This year we had 114 bloggers officially signed up. That makes this year the smallest #DBlogWeek, but we certainly made up for it with extra enthusiasm. There are over 350 wonderful blog posts on last week's link lists. Did you forget to add yours? Or did you fall behind but still want to tackle the prompts? Don’t worry, the lists will remain open until the first weekend in June so you can add your post. After that, the lists will officially close to new entries, but they will remain on-line for future reference.

This wrap up wouldn't be complete without a huge THANK YOU to all of you! I’m so grateful to everyone who blogged, read posts, tweeted, Facebooked, left comments and lurked with us once again for DBlogWeek. You are what make #DBlogWeek happen and I’m more thankful than you know. Honestly, it didn't bother me one bit that our participation was smaller this year, because we are still mighty! And I'm definitely not ruling out the possibility of a Ninth Diabetes Blog Week next year!!

Friday, May 19, 2017

Time to wrap up another Diabetes Blog Week already? I’m afraid it is, as we’ve reached our final day of DBlogWeek #8. I will do one final wrap up post next week to reflect back on the week, but for now let’s get to today’s topic.

Today’s topic is More Than Diabetes. Lets wrap up the week by sharing a little more about ourselves, beyond the chronic illness we or our loved ones live with. Share an interest, hobby, passion, something that is YOU. If you want to explore how it relates to or helps with diabetes you can. Or let it be a part of you that is completely separate from diabetes, because there is more to life than just diabetes! (This topic is a suggestion from the 2016 #DBlogWeek survey.)

I really love the idea of sharing parts of our lives beyond diabetes. It helps me get to know the people behind the diabetes blogs a little bit better. So what should I share? Maybe my love of baking? The big assortment of home-made cookies I bake each Christmas?
And how I’m trying to learn how to work with fondant?
Or I could share where I plan to eat my yummy baked treats…..which is on our new patio. Because our backyard recently went from this:
To this!!
Railings are being installed on the staircase right now. Lights and plants have been added around the border. And a patio set has shipped and should be in next week. Then some fresh white paint and a new fence and we’ll finally have a backyard that we can enjoy.

What? All the domesticated talk is boring? Okay, okay. There is more to me than culinary creations and home improvement. How about shopping? Clothes and shoes and purses. Pinning outfit inspiration boards on Pinterest. I used to love that show What Not To Wear. And okay, to be honest, I still watch the reruns every so often. And hey, did you know I actually met Clinton Kelly in January??
Yes, I was super nervous and went a bit fan-girl on him. Yes, I babbled incessantly because my brain slows down and my mouth speeds up when I’m nervous. Yes, I did make him look at a picture of my cat. But aside from acting like an idiot, I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.

So I guess that’s me. A star struck dork who loves baking and home improvement. And who is much more than diabetes.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

We are flying through #DBlogWeek with only today and tomorrow left to go! Before I get to today’s post, I want to remind everyone of the Link Lists. From what I can tell, most of you have been remembering to add your posts each day. (Thank you for that!!) It really is the best way for other bloggers (and lurkers) to find what you’ve written each day. You can find the link list for each prompt right on the Topics Page. Be sure click over and add your corresponding post to that list, if you haven’t already. And as always, if you have any questions feel free to email me. Okay, on to Day 4!!

We’re going to go back to a past blog week topic from 2014. May is Mental Health Month so now seems like a great time to explore the emotional side of living with, or caring for someone with, diabetes. What things can make dealing with diabetes an emotional issue for you and / or your loved one, and how do you cope? (Thanks again to Scott for this 2014 topic.)

*Big sigh* You know, I hate to say it, but I’m just not sure I have it in me to deal with all the emotional stuff today. The past two days have been pretty brutal and I’m barely hanging on. If I really start digging into my emotional black hole, I’m afraid I’ll get swallowed up by it. And there is a whole tag labeled Depression where I’ve written about what brings me down in the past. So instead I’m going to jump to the what helps me cope portion of the prompt and talk about What Brings Me Up.

Actually, I can sum it up in one word. SUPPORT. Both giving and receiving support is what helps keep me positive and helps get me through. And to be more specific, here are a bunch of examples:

On to today’s topic, The Blame Game. Having diabetes often makes a visit to the doctor a dreaded experience, as there is invariably bad news of one kind or another. And sometimes the way the doctor talks to you can leave you feeling like you’re at fault. Or maybe you have a fantastic healthcare team, but have experienced blame and judgement from someone else in your life – friend, loved one, complete stranger. Think about a particularly bad instance, how that person talked to you, the words they used and the conversation you had. Now, the game part. Let’s turn this around. If you could turn that person into a puppet, what would you have them say that would leave you feeling empowered and good about yourself? Let’s help teach people how to support us, rather than blame us! (Thank you, Brian, for inspiring this topic.)

My goodness the world loves to judge and blame, don’t we? I can write for days on this topic, but instead I think I’ll stick with the one blame that makes me the most angry. The Complications Blame.

My distant relative had diabetes and had his legs amputated…..but he didn’t take care of himself.

You’d better take good care of yourself or you’ll go blind.

People with uncontrolled diabetes will get complications.

I swear, I feel like if I hear this one more time, I’m going to lose my mind. I mean, first people with diabetes get blamed for having it, and then get blamed again for having the complications that it brings. Listen up world - it doesn’t work like that. Nobody causes their own diabetes. And nobody causes their own complications. Our bodies and our condition is to blame.

So here is what that puppet, who is smarter than the general public, would say……

My distant relative had diabetes too. (Period, end of statement.)

You’d better take good care of yourself. In fact, we all should take good care of ourselves. Want to go for a walk together and then go get salads for lunch?

Some people with diabetes will get complications. And some will not. And I love you, so I hope you won’t. But if you do, I’m here for you.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

It’s the second day of Diabetes Blog Week and we’re off to a great start so far with 105 bloggers signed up. Please take a look at the Participant’s List and make sure I’ve listed your information correctly. I double checked every entry but I’m far from perfect so if I’ve made an error please email me and I will fix it right away. If you’re blogging along with us but haven’t signed up, please do take a quick minute to do so over here. It helps me keep tabs on how many bloggers are still interested in DBlogWeek and also helps other bloggers find you.

Today’s topic is The Cost of a Chronic Illness. Insulin and other diabetes medications and supplies can be costly. Here in the US, insurance status and age (as in Medicare eligibility) can impact both the cost and coverage. So today, let’s discuss how cost impacts our diabetes care. Do you have advice to share? For those outside the US, is cost a concern? Are there other factors such as accessibility or education that cause barriers to your diabetes care? (This topic was inspired by suggestions from Rick and Jen.)

The financial cost of life with diabetes has been a very hot topic lately. Here in the U.S., costs are rising and the political climate has a lot of us feeling fearful about the future. I don’t know what will happen and I’m honestly scared. But on the same token, I know I’ve been very lucky. I’ve never had to go without my medications. I’ve always had good insurance. Things certainly aren’t cheap, but we’ve never had to choose between paying bills or buying food or purchasing diabetes supplies. I know how lucky and privileged I’ve been so far.

So when I think about the cost of my chronic illness, it isn’t always the dollars I’m thinking of. Instead, it’s less tangible things. Diabetes costs me countless hours of sleep treating middle of the night lows or correcting stubborn overnight highs. I’ve paid with so many tears of frustration when I’ve tried my hardest and things still don’t go well. It costs me guilt when I see the worry in my husband’s eye or hear the panic in his voice when he’s leaving me a second voicemail and I haven’t answered the phone. Diabetes charges a lot in energy and brain power just to keep myself alive. It has repossessed my nights when plans are cancelled because out of range blood sugars have left me too exhausted to go out.

I know there will be many powerful posts shared today and in the future about the huge financial cost of diabetes. But life with a chronic illness costs so much more than dollars and cents.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Welcome to day one of Diabetes Blog Week, Year Eight!! If you’d like to participate but haven’t signed up yet, please do so here (scroll down a bit to find the form). The more the merrier and it’s definitely not too late.

Today’s topic is Diabetes and The Unexpected. Diabetes can sometimes seem to play by a rulebook that makes no sense, tossing out unexpected challenges at random. What are your best tips for being prepared when the unexpected happens? Or, take this topic another way and tell us about some good things diabetes has brought into your, or your loved one’s, life that you never could have expected? (Thank you, Heather, for inspiring this topic!)

You know the old saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff”? Well, I have yet to follow that advice. I sweat the small stuff. I also sweat the big stuff. I pretty much sweat all the stuff. It’s annoying.

The upside to this is that I’m generally over prepared for just about any situation. When it comes to diabetes, more often than not I have everything I need. My purse has candy, glucagon, everything needed for a pump site change, extra tape, batteries and syringes. A reminder on my phone assures I don’t forget a site change. When I travel, I bring at least three times the diabetes stuff I need. That’s not to say I’m perfect. There have been a few times when I’ve slipped up a bit, but usually I’m more than prepared for the unexpected.

And the most unexpected thing about being way way way prepared is that I’ve been able to help out others. I’d say the majority of my travel is for diabetes conferences. Having a ton of supplies means I can help out others who’ve forgotten something. Ran out of strips at Friends for Life? I had an extra vial to give. Needed tape for your sensor at UnCon? Look no further than me. Forgot to pack your infusion set inserter or ripped out your site and didn’t have a spare? I had your back. And my favorite unexpected was a pump that died at the DiabetesMine Summit. I had packed my old pump and was able to loan it out until a replacement pump was sent. (Although given the option, I'd definitely wish my friend's pump hadn't malfunctioned......)

I try my best to be prepared for any diabetes unexpected situation that pops up. But I never expected how good it would make me feel to know I can also help out a friend in need from time to time.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

When I first started Diabetes Blog Week way back in 2010 I wasn’t sure if anyone would sign up. I was so excited to see how many of you wanted to participate. And each year I become more and more grateful that so many d-bloggers continue to show such support and enthusiasm for this event. I’m also thankful for all of the help you’ve given, with topics for us to write about and suggestions to help things run more smoothly. Diabetes Blog Week has continued to evolve and grow in a way I couldn’t have ever imagined. And so I’m beyond excited to kick off the Eighth Annual Diabetes Blog Week. Here we go!

What inspired Diabetes Blog Week? For those of you who haven’t participated before, Diabetes Blog Week was originally inspired by a fiber-blogger event called Knitting and Crochet Blog Week. When I participated that first year on my knitting blog I loved the way it united the community, and I knew I wanted to try to do the same for the DOC.

How does Diabetes Blog Week work? The main idea for Diabetes Blog Week is that bloggers sign up to post about a set topic each day for a week. This way, readers can jump around the DBlog Community and get a big variety of different perspectives on a single topic. The hope is that new DOC connections are made, and that our voices are raised to spread a little more diabetes awareness.

When is Diabetes Blog Week? The eighth annual Diabetes Blog Week will take place next week, from May 15th through May 19th.

Where can I find the Diabetes Blog Week topics? You can find the topics for next week on the Topics and Posts page. They’ve been posted in advance, just in case you want to start drafting your posts this week. (But please remember not to publish your post until that specific day!). Use the topics as a starting point for your post each day and see where it takes you. Write as much or as little as you like. There are no right or wrong answers - just read over the topic and start blogging! I've also included a wild card topic. If one day’s topic doesn’t inspire you, feel free to post about the wild card topic instead.

Who can participate in Diabetes Blog Week? DBlog Week is open to anyone who blogs about diabetes - be it Type 1, Type 2, LADA, gestational, etc., and it’s also for parents, spouses, loved ones and caregivers to someone else with diabetes. If you blog about diabetes in any capacity, please join us! The more perspectives that are shared the more connections we can make and understanding we can foster. If you don’t have a blog but have thought about starting one, now is the perfect time. There are free blogging sites (such as Blogger or WordPress) that you can use to get started.

Can blogs done by groups, organizations and companies join? I like to make Diabetes Blog Week as inclusive as possible, so yes, group blogs and professional blogs are welcome to join. However, the posts must be written by a blogger with a diabetes connection. Also product plugs / advertising will not be allowed. Posts that do no adhere to this policy will be removed from the master link lists. (More about those lists below.)

What if I can’t write posts for all five days? The idea for Diabetes Blog Week is that everyone who signs up to participate will post on all five days. Although that is the goal, I absolutely understand that life sometimes gets in the way, so if you end up falling short of five posts that’s okay. Diabetes can be stressful enough, so let’s keep DBlog Week fun and stress free.

How do I sign up? Once again, I’ve created a form to submit your information. Fill it out and you will be signed up and added to the Participant List within 24 hours. There is a space on the form for you to let me know if you have any questions, and you can also email me at any time at DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com.

Will there be a master list of posts for each day? There sure will! Before things kick off on Monday will add daily Link Lists on the Diabetes Blog Week topics page. Once you’ve published your post each day, be sure to add it to that day’s list by entering your blog name and the url of that day's post. This way we’ll have all posts linked in one central location, which makes it easier for people to hop around and read all of the posts. Please do not “pre-post” your links - links may only be added on the day that we’re blogging about that topic, and your post must be live on your blog when you link it. (Early posts will be deleted from the list.)

How about a button or banner for my blog? Why yes, of course! If you’d like to display the button or banner on your blog you’ll find the HTML Codes below - just to make things a little bit easier. Highlight the code in the box, then copy and paste it into the HTML section of your blog’s sidebar or post or where ever you want to display the graphic.

Grab the Banner

Grab the Button

What if I want to tweet or Facebook about Diabetes Blog Week? That would be awesome, you can use the hashtag #DBlogWeek.

What else do I need to know? Great question. I’ve tried to cover everything, but I’m sure I missed something. So please leave any questions in the comments section below or email them to me at DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com. I'll be sure to answer you as soon as I can.

Thank you all again for the outpouring of support during the last seven Diabetes Blog Weeks, and I’m thrilled to be doing it an eighth time.

I Am . . .

Karen Graffeo

I'm a Knitter living with Type 1 Diabetes. I'm not a medical professional nor am I giving medical advice - I'm just a girl sharing my personal thoughts and experiences with diabetes. I live in New England with my wonderful husband, my adorable cat, and lots and lots of yarn.